Closures for glass containers



June 1967 J. M. WHEATON CLOSURES FOR GLASS CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 19,1966 6& 1

I N VEN TOR. MILXAZZJEIQTON BY MMSW 19 TTORNFYJ United States Patent3,325,033 CLOSURES FOR GLASS CONTAINERS Jack M. Wheaton, Toledo, Ohio,assignor to Owens- Illinois, Inc, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 19,1966, Ser. No. 521,593 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-39) My invention relates toclosures for glass containers and is especially concerned with theprovision of a composite closure, one element of which functionsinitially as a dust-cap or cover which is affixed to the containeralmost immediately following the container fabricating operation so asto maintain the initial substantial commercial sterility of suchcontainers by protecting them against contamination resulting from entrythereinto of dust, carton fiber etc., during transportation and generalhandling between the glass plant and the customers or bottlers fillingline. Without such protection, it would be necessary to Wash thecontainers thorouhgly prior to filling, such being a "costly procedurebecause expensive floor space occupying machinery is required.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a dust-cap ofthe above type which remains as an integral part of the complete sealed,filled bottle from the time it is manufactured until the bottle isopened by the ultimate consumer of its contents and removed with a metalcover cap. To this end the dust-cap embodies a panel portion throughwhich a filling tube, or the like device, may be inserted into thebottle mouth, such step being of a character to insure substantiallycomplete reclosing of the oening created by the filling device, incidentto its retraction and finally an interlocking of the two caps so thatthey normally are inseparable, inadvertently.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a tear-tab type ofmetal cover cap or closure adapted to be fitted over the dust-cap, whichmay be formed of polyethylene or some similar elastomeric material, andsecured to the bottle. Thus the dust-cap becomes a cap liner in thefinal analysis.

It is also a very important object of my invention to provide novelsimple means for positively securing the dust-cap and outer metal captogether so that both, of necessity, are removed together, as a unit bythe ultimate consumer. This is obviously of substantial importance inthat it would be most undesirable t-o burden the customer with thenecessity of removing first the metal outer cap and then, as a separatestep or operation, removing the inner dust-cap. By interlocking themsecurely, they are removable as a unit, as indicated previously.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of my application:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my dust-cap afrixed tothe neck of a conventional, newly formed beverage bottle;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view, similar to FIG. 1 but with aconventional filling, or air tube, projecting through the dust-cap intothe bottle mouth;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1, but with a tear-tab metal cover capenclosing and secured to the dust-cap and in turn secured to the bottleneck;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dust-cap showing one possible arrangementof radial scores or slits in the panel or top wall, such permittingready insertion of the filling or air tube; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing another form of meansfor interlocking the two caps.

This application discloses subject matter related to my commonlyassigned, co-pending application Ser. No.

476,276, filed Aug. 2, 1965, filed jointly with a co-inventor, Samuel M.Downs.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention there is shown a bottleneck 10 having at its upper end an annular rim 11 defining a mouth 12.The rim 11 is of such cross-sectional contour as to incorporate a bead13 providing a relatively wide annular sealing surface and acomparatively abrupt annular shoulder 14 which extends downwardly andinwardly for retaining engagement with a dust-cap, as will becomeevident presently.

The dust-cap 15, which, as stated heretofore, is formed of athermoplastic material, also functions as a liner for the final closure16. This dust-cap 15 may well comprise a panel 17, or top wall, and anannular depending attaching skirt 1% about the periphery of the top wall17. The lower margin, if desired, may be provided with a flaredextension 19 as shown, an internal annular head 20, at the juncture ofthe skirt and extension 19 is intended to snap over and securely engagethe previously mentioned annular shoulder 14 on the bottle neck. Thedust-cap is thus secured in position to close the bottle mouth andexclude dust and other foreign matter from the bottle, as heretoforeexplained. As stated previously, this dust-cap application is effectedat the bottle manufacturing plant and prior to exposure of the bottle todust-laden air, etc. Thus commercial sterility is assured. Beads 21within the dust-cap contribute materially to the sealing elfectivenessof the cap, as is apparent. Filling of the bottle, without any necessityfor removal of the dust-cap, is possible because of the slits 22 in thepanel or top wall of the dustcap. These slots create a multiplicity offlaps 23 which are momentarily displaced by insertion of the filling orair tube T. This tube pushes the flaps aside and upon completion of thefilling cycle, the tube of course is withdrawn and concurrentlytherewith the flaps return to their original position, thus againclosing the top wall. Immediately, the outer metal cover cap 24 isfitted over the dust-cap and secured in place.

This cover cap 24 comprises a panel 25, or top wall, and a dependingannular attaching skirt 26, the latter embodying a tear-tab 27, ifdesired. This cover cap telescopes completely over the dust-cap 15,tending to more firmly press the latter against the neck of the bottle.The lower margin of the skirt is contracted slightly to secure the covercap to the bottle. Additionally the skirt proper is constricted inlocalized areas so as to provide either a continuous annular indentation28, or perhaps an annular series of spaced apart indentations 29 orrelatively sharp protuberances, which bite into the skirt of thedust-cap and firmly interlock the two caps. Thus, at the time of openingthe bottle by the ultimate consumer, both caps separate as a unit fromthe bottle.

It is understood in view of the foregoing, that newly formed bottles,perhaps while still warm from the annealing operation, are effectivelysealed with dust-caps 15 which remain in place until removed by theultimate consume-r. These bottles do not require conventional washing,and are filled through the inserted filling, or air tube T. Thereafterthe metal cover cap is placed over the dust-cap, and secured to thebottle neck by a conventional skirt deforming step. Thereupon theindentations are formed in the cover cap skirt to effect firminterlocking of the two caps so that both, of necessity, and unavoidablymust be removed as a unit, incident to initially opening the bottle.

Modifications may be restored to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure for hermetically sealing the mouth of a bottle comprising athermoplastic skirted dust cover-cap formed with means to readily admita filling device for insertion into the bottle mouth, a skirted closurecap telescoped over the dust cover-cap, and at least one radiallyinwardly extending protuberance formed on the skirt of the metal closurecap and biting into the skirt of the dust cover-cap.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 and a tear-tab depending from theskirt of the metal closure cap.

3. In combination, a bottle having a mouth-defining rim, said rim formedwith an annular external downwardly facing abutment, a closure for saidmouth comprising a thermoplastic dust cover-cap having a radiallyslitted panel and a depending annular skirt to engage over said abutmentand thereby initially secure the cap to the bottle, a sheet metalclosure cap telescoped over said dust cover-cap, said closure cap havinga panel over- 15 4 lying the slitted panel and an annular attachingskirt lying against the skirt of the dust cover-cap, a tear tabdepending from the skirt of the closure cap and at least oneprotuberance on the skirt of the closure cap to interlock the two skirtsand caps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1922 Biehn. 4/1956 Rubin 215-39

1. A CLOSURE FOR HERMETICALLY SEALING THE MOUTH OF A BOTTLE COMPRISING ATHERMOPLASTIC SKIRTED DUST COVER-CAP FORMED WITH MEANS TO READILY ADMITA FILLING DEVICE FOR INSERTION INTO THE BOTTLE MOUTH, A SKIRTED CLOSURECAP TELESCOPED OVER THE DUST COVER-CAP, AND AT LEAST ONE RADIALLYINWARDLY EXTENDING PROTUBERANCE FORMED ON THE SKIRT OF THE METAL CLOSURECAP AND BITING INTO THE SKIRT OF THE DUST COVER-CAP.